At the May 1 Ways and Means hearing, Town Council Clerk Kirk Cimino presented the council’s FY2026 budget, which the clerk said is reduced compared with prior years. The clerk’s presentation underscored that the council’s operating budget funds one full‑time clerk, stipends for nine councilors and modest operating items; Cimino said there are no additional dedicated support staff.

Why it matters: Councilors said constrained funding for the council office hampers the body’s ability to perform core functions, provide auditing oversight and respond to emergent needs. Several members said the current funding level is unsustainable and called for restoring a reserve fund and additional staffing.

What the clerk presented

Cimino summarized the council budget as a level‑service request with a net decrease of $17.50 overall. The budget covers the clerk’s salary, councilor stipends, the town auditor contract allocation, required legal advertising, Massachusetts Municipal Association dues and routine office supplies. Cimino said the council’s reserve and consultant funds were reduced to zero in prior years.

Councilor concerns and next steps

Councilors framed the council budget as a governance and democracy issue: Councilor Warren said the council’s capacity to respond to unforeseen events has been “abdicated” by successive budget reductions and said the council must restore a reserve fund and adequate staffing. “This is the last year that this is gonna look like this if I have anything to do with it,” Warren said, adding she will use her committee assignments to pursue changes.

Councilor Maglio noted that Cimino is the sole staff member supporting nine elected members and praised his work while urging stronger support for the office. Councilor Flaherty and others reiterated that the council’s audit and legal review capacity are limited by current funding and that the council’s ability to run elections and other core functions depends on adequate staffing and resources.

Staff response

Cimino and Finance Director Mike Esmond confirmed the budget memo requested level‑service submissions from departments and that the council budget was prepared from the mayoral guidance. Esmond said the administration had asked departments for “above‑level‑service” requests separately and that some departments submitted additional items; however, the council’s submitted budget was largely level service.

What’s next

Councilors said they will pursue hearings and discussions in personnel and finance committee meetings to examine the council office budget and seek options for a reserve fund and additional staffing. The Committee of Ways and Means scheduled additional budget hearings through May where the council’s request and other departmental budgets will be revisited.

(Reporting from the Town of Braintree Committee of Ways and Means hearing, May 1, 2025.)